New Zealand captain Sophie Devine acknowledged that India will head into their virtual quarterfinal clash of the Women’s World Cup as clear favourites, despite the enormous pressure of playing in front of a home crowd.
Speaking on the eve of the decisive encounter at the DY Patil Stadium, Devine admitted that she empathised deeply with the Indian team, who face the weight of a nation’s expectations.
“In all honesty, I can’t begin to imagine the type of pressure that the Indian team is under,” Devine said. “When we played at a home World Cup, the pressure we felt to perform in front of our own crowd and country was at times overwhelming. I can’t imagine what that’s like with a billion people tuned in and the weight that’s on their shoulders. I’ve got real empathy for them trying to deal with that while also having to perform.”
With both sides fighting to keep their tournament hopes alive, the stakes could not be higher. A win for India would all but seal their place in the semifinals, while New Zealand need victories in both their remaining matches to stay in contention.
Devine said her team is fully aware of India’s strength but remains focused on their own approach. “We’re under no illusions that India are the favourites, without a doubt. We’ll wear that underdog badge with pride, as Kiwis often do,” she said.
The New Zealand skipper stressed that her team’s focus would be on controlling the controllables and not getting distracted by external factors, including the weather. “We know the pressure India are under at home, but we’re going to go out there and control what we can. This is pretty much a quarterfinal, and we’re stepping up to that challenge,” she said. “It rained last night when India came to train, but that’s something we can’t control. We’ve moved on and know exactly what we need to do.”
Devine also highlighted the leadership role she shares with veteran batter Suzie Bates, with both senior players determined to guide the younger members of the squad. “We take pride in leading through our performances and actions,” she said. “We’ll have to lean on each other, especially with 99.9 percent of the crowd supporting India tomorrow. It’s going to be a sea of blue.”
Looking ahead to the match, Devine expects a high-scoring contest at the DY Patil Stadium. “It looks like a great batting wicket, and the outfield is like a carpet-lightning quick. Hopefully, it’s a sold-out crowd and a fantastic atmosphere for everyone.”